Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Muhammad Cartoons: Global Lynch Mob Attacks Free Speech
Human Events Online ^ | 4 February 2006 | Mac Johnson

Posted on 02/04/2006 1:12:28 AM PST by Aussie Dasher

If anyone in the United States questions the propriety of the federal government funding gay snuff films for distribution to schoolchildren, America’s entire mainstream media is there immediately, screaming like scalded monkeys about the end of “freedom of speech.” Why, think of the chilling effect such defunding could have on the whole snuff film industry. And from there it is a steep slippery slope to Orwell’s 1984 and then … death camps for everybody.

“I may not agree with what you say,” they often misquote Voltaire, “but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” But when a real threat to our freedom to say what we believe without fear of prosecution or persecution comes from anyone other than the old familiar bogeymen of the left’s world, the mainstream media often has precious little to say.

The growing global lynch mob calling for reprisal against the entire nation of Denmark for daring to let its newspapers publish whatever they want -- even about religion -- is just such a case. The Jyllands-Posten newspaper of Denmark published a group of cartoons solely to demonstrate a point about the increasing threat posed to free societies by the fear of Muslim violence.

An author of a book on the Muslim prophet Muhammad complained that he could find no artist willing to illustrate his book, because they all feared they would be targeted for assassination by religious fanatics if the book was deemed “offensive to Islam.” When authors are afraid to write and artists are afraid to illustrate books on important topics, we are no longer a free society. Thus, the Jyllands-Posten opened its pages to local artists to send in their illustrations of Muhammad. “We will not be intimidated” was the clear message they wished to send.

For this principled defense of freedom of speech, the artists and staff of the Jyllands-Posten began receiving death threats. Apparently, the artists that refused to illustrate the book because they believed that Islam produces more than its share of intolerant thugs were not merely drawing upon a caricature. But the situation has since rapidly devolved into caricature and self-parody.

The governments of Muslim nations began demanding that the democratic government of Denmark punish the independent newspaper for daring to print “blasphemy” against Islam. When the Prime Minister of Denmark, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, explained to them that (unlike in their countries) the government can’t tell people what to say in Denmark, Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador. Libya closed its embassy. Egypt refused to repay loans from Denmark. Riots broke out in the Gaza strip, where Islamic Jihad burned Danish flags and threatened to begin kidnapping and killing Danes wherever they could find them. A Pakistani group offered cash rewards for the heads of the artists -- and keep in mind that “for the heads” is not just an expression in some places.

After every terror attack, we are reminded by spokesmen from these same Muslim nations that we must not judge all Muslims just by the action of a few thousand, or even tens of thousands, of radicals that enjoy the support of a majority of the population in many countries. True.

But because of the free speech of one newspaper, the governments of many Muslim nations are encouraging a boycott of every company in Denmark. No butter cookies for you, Fatima! Several firms with formerly large subsidiaries in the Middle East have been put out of business in the region, and in several cases their employees have been attacked. This would be as silly as disliking the actions of the United States and deciding to burn down a Kentucky Fried Chicken and kill all its employees. Oh wait, that actually happened in Pakistan.

Back in Denmark, the artists have gone into hiding and the Jyllands-Posten has been evacuated -- because they dared, in a free society, to say what they thought. But where is the uproar? What other media outlets have rushed to their defense? Where is the New York Times’ editorial page? Silent. What of CNN? They will report the riots over the cartoons, but refuse to show the rather tame cartoons themselves out of “respect for Islam.” A network that cannot self-censor itself to keep our soldiers safe in time of war will gladly self-censor itself to avoid offending those who would so forcefully censor Denmark. As will NBC. Other outlets are simply mute on the issue.

And this is not a new phenomenon.

The Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh dared to make a movie of a script by a Muslim woman in which she depicts the treatment of women in many Islamic societies. It was judged “offensive to Islam” by some -- so Van Gogh was shot, stabbed, hacked, and beat to death on the street.

Salman Rushdie’s book, The Satanic Verses, offended Islam, according to the Ayatollah Khomeini, so he issued a death sentence against the English author to be carried out on sight anywhere in the world. Mr. Rushdie has lived in hiding in his allegedly “free” society ever since.

Other less well-known artists are also under death threat for work published in Europe or America, but judged offensive half a world away.

And the complaints about offense go to the smaller end of the spectrum as well. A British bar owner was forced to remove a “no porking” sign from his parking lot because it was “offensive to Islam.” Pictures of Piglet have been removed from British government offices because Piglet is allegedly “offensive to Islam.”

Artwork was removed from a gallery in Sweden because it was “offensive to Islam.” An Italian author was brought up on hate crime charges because her opinions were “offensive to Islam.”

Barbie dolls are offensive to Islam, Coca Cola labels are offensive to Islam, Burger King Ice Cream lids are offensive to Islam, Levi’s jeans ads are offensive to Islam. These are all actual news items.

While the American media whines on about NSA wiretapping and the Patriot Act, they ignore a much bigger threat to free speech -- the very real prospect of being censored or even marked for death simply for expressing one’s thoughts on religion.

A global precedent is being set here. If they are smart, other media outlets will fall in behind Denmark’s Jyllands-Posten and establish that they will be censored by neither government nor religion. Several European papers have reprinted the cartoons as an act of solidarity and defiance -- including one that declared “Yes, we have the right to blasphemy.”

It is not just our own government that presents a threat to free speech, and if we are serious about defending it -- rather than just using the concept to bash political enemies -- then we must defend it from every threat.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: freespeech; lunatics; madmoozies; muhammad
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-42 next last
The bottom line is these moozies are bloody mad!
1 posted on 02/04/2006 1:12:31 AM PST by Aussie Dasher
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Aussie Dasher
"The bottom line is these moozies are bloody mad!"

Maybe their turbans are wrapped to tight.

2 posted on 02/04/2006 1:36:58 AM PST by blackbart.223 (I live in Northern Nevada. Reid doesn't represent me.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All
ON THE NET...

AFTENPOSTEN.no/english: "NORWAY USED AS TERROR BASE Islamic extremists are using Norway as a base for terrorist operations overseas, but the head of Norway's security police claims they're being watched." (February 3, 2006)



BRUSSELS JOURNAL.com: "'THE WAR IS ON'" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Yesterday (Thursday) Mullah Krekar, the alleged leader of the Islamist group Ansar al-Islam who has been living in Norway as a refugee since 1991, said that the publication of the Muhammad cartoons was a declaration of war. "The war has begun," he told Norwegian journalists. Mr Krekar said Muslims in Norway are preparing to fight. "It does not matter if the governments of Norway and Denmark apologize, the war is on.") (February 3, 2006)
AFTENPOSTEN.no/english: Aftenposten.no - Search Term: "KREKAR"

Google - Search Term: "KREKAR"

TrackingAlQaeda.blogspot.com: "EUROPEAN SITES HACKED BY MUSLIMS OUTRAGED OVER CARTOONS" (February 3, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com: "IN THEIR OWN WORDS" (February 3, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com: "THE 'INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ANGER'" (February 3, 2006)

ISLAMONLINE.net: Cairo - "WARNINGS CARTOONS RISK VIOLENCE" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The blasphemous cartoons of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by a Danish daily and other European newspapers are risking to trigger acts of violence around the world, officials and commentators warn." (February 2, 2006)
THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "FABRICATED CARTOONS WORSENED DANISH CONTROVERSY" (February 2, 2006)

DAVIDS MEDIENKRITIK - blog: "WITH DENMARK: United Against Islamic Intolerance Time to Stand Up to Islama-Bullying: BUY DANISH!"

DAVIDS MEDIENKRITIK - blog: "DANISH CARTOONS: GERMAN JOURNALIST ASSOCIATION SAYS 'NO'...MAKE THAT 'YES'" (February 1, 2006)

THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "MUJAHIDEEN ARMY CALLS UPON FIGHTERS TO ATTACK DENMARK AND NORWAY" (January 31, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AFP): "FATWA AGAINST DANISH TROOPS" (January 31, 2006)

THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "DANISH LEFTIST GROUP OPENLY FUNDING TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS" -Posted by Olivier Guitta (January 29, 2006)

TrackingAlQueda.blogspot.com: "MUSLIMS BEGIN PING FLOOD AGAINST JYLLANDS-POSTEN" (January 29, 2006)

INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "THE DANISH THREAT This latest threat from the 'Glory Brigades in Northern Europe' targets Denmark" (January 28, 2006)

"www.internet-haganah.com/hmedia/28jan06-denmark/index.htm" (January 28, 2006

TrackingAlQaeda.blogspot.com: "Denmark is next - BOLO Denmark!!!" (January 27, 2006)

"www.mohajroon.com/vb"

LittleGreenFootballs.com - Weblog: "The Cartoon Jihad" (January 27, 2006)

INFOVLAD.net: "NEXT TARGET - DENMARK?" (October 15, 2005)

3 posted on 02/04/2006 1:39:44 AM PST by Cindy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Aussie Dasher

I find Islam offensive to me.


4 posted on 02/04/2006 1:43:22 AM PST by somemoreequalthanothers (All for the betterment of "the state", comrade)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: somemoreequalthanothers
The Cure:


5 posted on 02/04/2006 1:44:47 AM PST by mfulstone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Aussie Dasher; All
Everything I have found about The War of the 12 Cartoons ( links, blogs, quips, quotes, aggravating pictures ) is located here- click the Pic, and scroll backwards:


6 posted on 02/04/2006 1:45:22 AM PST by backhoe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cindy

bttt


7 posted on 02/04/2006 1:48:27 AM PST by nopardons
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: backhoe

bttt


8 posted on 02/04/2006 1:48:56 AM PST by nopardons
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: backhoe

This looks like a good place to drop a napalm bomb.


9 posted on 02/04/2006 1:49:01 AM PST by blackbart.223 (I live in Northern Nevada. Reid doesn't represent me.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Aussie Dasher

I heard about the fight on the beach where 6 guys got stabbed. So, are things weird walking down the street and seeing a Muslim? Personally, I would be a little freaked out, and ready to retaliate if it came to that.


10 posted on 02/04/2006 1:52:31 AM PST by ovrtaxt (I have a crush on this bag lady. Does that make me a hobosexual?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Aussie Dasher

My new tag line.


11 posted on 02/04/2006 1:52:37 AM PST by poobear (Islam - A Global Lynch Mob !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Aussie Dasher
The bottom line is these moozies are bloody mad!++++

Bottom line; the Christian world is at war with Islam.

12 posted on 02/04/2006 1:57:41 AM PST by Lion Den Dan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lion Den Dan

The trouble is the moozies know it and most of us don't!


13 posted on 02/04/2006 1:59:43 AM PST by Aussie Dasher (The Great Ronald Reagan & John Paul II - Heaven's Dream Team!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Aussie Dasher

Yes they are, and this IMHO should be exploited. It's much easier to defeat an enemy that's in a frothing rage.


14 posted on 02/04/2006 2:06:55 AM PST by Jack of all Trades (Never underestimate the speed in which the thin veneer of civilization can be stripped away.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jack of all Trades

In that case, they should be a pushover. They're always freaking out about something or other.


15 posted on 02/04/2006 2:10:28 AM PST by Aussie Dasher (The Great Ronald Reagan & John Paul II - Heaven's Dream Team!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Aussie Dasher

Muslims are hypocrits and whiners. These people are not concerned when somone is beheaded in the name of Islam, but the muslims are angry over a cartoon. This demonstrates once again that beheading people on video in the names of Islam is not considered blasphemy by muslims,but free expression is. The DoS had to be political in its comments, but they are an embarassment for insulting Denmark. The US Government has acted disgracefully for complying with Islam's attempt to blackmail Denmark with violence for having a free society.


16 posted on 02/04/2006 2:17:00 AM PST by sangrila
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Aussie Dasher

"Barbie dolls are offensive to Islam, Coca Cola labels are offensive to Islam, Burger King Ice Cream lids are offensive to Islam, Levi’s jeans ads are offensive to Islam. These are all actual news items."


Islam is offensive to me.


17 posted on 02/04/2006 2:19:38 AM PST by sangrila
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mfulstone
Where this Mohammedan death cult originated so shall it end.

The incitement to murder sign should be enough to lock those dishrags up and throw away the key!

Talk about a British national terrorist threats - these killers should all be locked up. England must be on double duty national security.

Miserable hate infested Nazi savages with bedsheets on

18 posted on 02/04/2006 2:51:43 AM PST by M. Espinola (Freedom is never free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Aussie Dasher
"Know your enemy and know yourself, you will be victorious in 100 out of 100 battles" - Sun Tzu, The Art of War

"Nobody ever helped win a war by dieing for his country. He did it by making some other poor bastard die for his" - Gen. George S. Patton.

There is a time for strength and a time for guile. How does a Matador defeat a bull? He enrages it until it charges, not caring what is beyond it's target. What's beyond the target is always a wall, a Picador or air. The bull defeats itself.

19 posted on 02/04/2006 2:55:03 AM PST by Jack of all Trades (Never underestimate the speed in which the thin veneer of civilization can be stripped away.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: M. Espinola
Al Boomb!


20 posted on 02/04/2006 3:19:22 AM PST by mfulstone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-42 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson